Counter construction



June 9, 1953 l.. A. sxMMoNs COUNTER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 21, 1948 F1-'qu June 9, 1953 L. A. slMMoNs COUNTER CONSTRUCTION 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 21, 1948 Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT CFP'ICEl COUNTER CONSTRUCTION Lewis A. Simmons, Maywood, Ill.Application May 21, 1948, Serial No. 28,362

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for checking andloading merchandise in containers. More particularly, this inventionrelates to improvements in the design and functional location of counterequipment whereby a new, more eicient method of checking and packingmerchandise is made possible.

At the present time retail stores, such as large grocery markets, makeuse of a check-out system wherein one person checks'the articles andrecords the price in a cash register and then, either pushes thearticles over to another person who packs them in boxes or bags, orpermits the articles to accumulate on the counter and periodically stopschecking to 4do the packing.

The cash register in these cases is usually mounted near the end of thecounter on a platform extending at right angle to the counter. Thus, theoperator cannot face the cash register and Lthe articles on the counterat the same time. This arrangement Vcauses the operator to constantlypivot back and forth in a tiring, energyexpending fashion. Further, thisarrangement precludes the use of a chair by the operator since he mustperiodically move from the checking station to the packing station whenworking alone.

According to the principal features of the present invention, thechecking station and the packing station are arranged adjacent eachother and are aligned in an oblique position relative to the counter.The packing station comprises a support member which is arranged to holda container, either a bag or a box, with its open end substantially atthe level of the counter top and with the closed bottom of the containersupported at a lower level. The checking station comprises a cashregister mounted at a convenient level on a table. With this arrangementthe loperator can, with his left hand, slide an article along thecounter into the container while he is recording the sale on the cashregister with vhis right hand. The checking and packing stations are soarranged relative to the counter that the operator is facingsubstantially directly to-v ward the packing station, the loadingstation and the articles on the counter, and the cash register.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provideapparatus for checking and packing articles which will permit theoperator to perform the checking operation with one hand and the packingoperation with the other without being required to change positionsduring the operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support memberadjustable for holding either a rpaper box or a paper bag in positionwith the upper open end of the box or bag substantially at the level ofthe counter top.

A furthe-r object of this .invention is to provide 2 apparatus forpacking containers having arms for holding the upper end of the bag inan open position'to facilitate packing of articles therein.

A still fur-ther object of this invention is to provide apparatus forholding a bag in a positio inclined toward the operator.

`Another and still further object is to provide packing and checkingapparatus which will permit the operator to be seated while carrying onthe various operations.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a bag storagecompartment in the bottom portion of the counter having novel means foropening the bag as it is withdrawn therefrom.

yOther and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be appa-rent to one skilled in the art from the followingdetail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the counter, checking and packingapparatus of the presentl invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially online III-III of Figure 1 showing the packing apparatus in position *forsupporting a bag.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View similar to Figure 3 showing thepacking apparatus in a revolved position for accommodating 'a cardboardbox.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line VI--VI of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures 1 and 2 the reference numeral I0 indicates generally acounter comprising a counter top l! sup-ported on a frame struc-` tureincluding vertical uprights I2 and horizon# tal connecting members I3suitably secured thereto. The counter top Il may advantageously be madeof a plywood construction or other suitable counter top material. Theframe structure is preferably made of Wood.

At one end of the counter there is provided a cut out portion Hl denedby the marginal edges I5, i6 and l?. It will be noted that this openinghas a partial rectangular coniiguration with the edges I5, I6 and Iloblique to the longitudinalA side edges of the counter l).

Spaced below the counter top l I and substantially underlying the cutout portion I4' of the counter is a pivot platform 20, supported onupright leg members 2l, 22 and 23 and obliquelyV disposed horizontalframe members 24 and( 25.1

The platform has on@ marginal edge overlying the edge of the member andis dened on its other marginal edges by dotted lines 21, 28, 2S, 3% and3|.

A third platform 33, hereinafter vreferred to as a discharge platform,is positioned at the end of the platform l0 and supported on verticalposts 34 and horizontal frame members 35. At the end of the platform 33adjacent the platform lil, there is provided a cut-out portion definedby the marginal edges 3l, 33, 39 and 4).

Thus, as seen in Figure 1, there is provided in this invention a maincounter member 150 and a discharge counter 33 disposed at the end of thecounter IG at a lower level. Cut-out portions in the counters lil and 33define an opening .disf posed obliquely to the direction of the countermembers. A pivot platform 23 underlies the opening denned in thecounters lll and 33, being spaced below both of said counters forpivotally mounting a container sup-port member .4e which is disposed inthe opening and which is arranged to support a paper bag, 43, in aninclined posif tion, as shown in Figure 3, or a cardboard box, M, in anupright position as shown in Figure 4.

The container support member 65 of this invention comprises a iiat plateMi having depending marginal flanges il on either side thereof. Theplate i6 is mounted for pivoting on the platform 2t on rigid Vshapedstrap members de, Figure 3, which are secured at their outer ends as bywelding to the lower side of the plate d'5 and are :pivotally mounted attheir apex around a pivot rod 5G iournaled at either end in bearingblocks 5I which are secured, as by bolts 52, to the pivot platform 2B.

A bracket assembly 511 is pvotally mounted near one end of the plate l5and has arm members 55, Figure 5, journaled in the depending flanges 4lof lthe plate assembly. The bracket ,5

assembly 56 comprises a short Urshaped arm. 5l and a longer U-shaped arm5B disposed at right angles to each other and having an arm member 5@ ofthe U-shaped member 151 secured as by Welding to each leg of theU-shaped member 58. The U-shaped configuration of these arms 5l alla 58can best be seen in Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 it is seen that in the position Where thesupport member is holding a paper bag t3 in position, Figure `3, thelonger lJ-shaped member 53 is held in an 11pright position with itslower end abutting a cross cleat 6G, secured to the pivot plate 20. Bythe action of a spring clip member Gi, also secured to the plate 2li,the U-shaped member 58 is releasably held against said cleat $0. linFigure 4, when the support member has been pivoted to assume a positionfor supporting a box M the shorter U -shaped leg 5l is :pivoted into asupport1 ing position at substantially right angle tothe plate 45 andabuts a cross cleat 62 secured to the pivot .platform 20.

If the operator has been packing paper bags, using the positionindicated in Figure 3, and he desires to pack a box, he merely pivotsthe platform 4G counterclockwise about the pivot rod 5G and pivots thelonger support arm 58 upwardly against the bottom of the plate dii. Thesupport member will then assume the position indicated in Figure 4.

At one end of the pivot platform 20 there is provided a slidable guideassembly S5 comp-rising two upright guide plates t6 secured throughflange :portions 61 in spaced lateral relation to the platform 23. Nearthe upper edges of .these l plates there are vprovided linedlongitudinal slots 68 arranged to receive in sliding relation a pair ofcross bars 69, which are connected at their ends to depending flangeportions lil, Figure 6, of an elongated sliding plate ll which extendsacross the top of the guide member and pro- -vides a platform forinitially receiving the box or bag after it has been packed.

It will be seen in Figures 1 and 3 that the plate ll ,is disposed at thesame level as the discharge platform 33 on which the loaded containersmay he placed.

A plate l2 extends across the loa-ding station between the plate it andthe plate ll, being pivotally connected to both of these members. Asseen in Figure 3, the cross plate l2 supports the bottom of the 'bag inanginclined position. as the support plate 45 is moved from bagsupporting position to box supporting position the plate l2 first -movesto the Vright causing plate li to slide to .the right. Continuedpivoting oi the plate` di@ however draws plate l2 to the left vas seenin Figures 3 and Il. 1t will be understood that the sup-port plate :leandthe attached support inembers may be made yof a length suitable tohandle any size bag. 'ln the illustration of Figure 3, bag resting onthe plate 'i2 is a typical .E0-pound bag suoli .as is most often used ingrocery stores. A. typical a5-pound bag is shown in Figure 3 in dot-dashlines 'I3 in a position in which it supported at its lower end on apivoting door l5, which is best seen in Figure l. Thus, the ap paratus:disclosed in Figure 3 is suitable selectively for supporting {mpoundybags or 25-pound bags.

The upper kend of the bag is held in open por sition by means ef a plateTIG which is secured, as by screws, ign ,a recess l@ `of the ycountertop Ill and by a pair of upwardly extending arms tu, Figure v2, disposedsubstantially at right angle to the plane of the support plate fit .andadjustably secured in bracketimembers 8l which are mounted on extensions82 of the counter top id. yihe arms Si) have projections 8l which arearranged to fit under the lip of the bag and hold it in an open positionWhile the plate i6 has a plurality of tabs ,85 inclined downwardlyT atthe same angle as the ,Support plate ll and so arranged that a lip ofthe bag may be engaged between .the plate le and the tabs 85. After abag is .packed With artt cles it may be .easily slid downwardly fromunder the bag opening members.

From the foregoing description it is seen that there is provided in thisinvention a novel arrangement of .counter members providing an openinginto which is arranged a pivoting packing support member. The supportmember is arranged to position a paper bag in an inclined open positionat the end .of the counter member o1' to hold a box in an uprightposition, but in either case the upper open end of the container isdisposed substantially at the level of the counter top.

As it is readily seen .in Figure 1, a cash register 8l may be disposedon a table 83 in line with the bag supporting member so that theoperator will be able to face both the cash register and the supportmember at the same time. It is centersF plated in this invention thatthe operator will be seated on a stool at a convenient height foreiciently moving the articles from the counter topl into the containersupported at the lower level. Therefore, the cash register 8l' will besupported at a level in conformance with the height ef the counter tops0 that the operator While loading with his left hand may operate thecash register with his right hand.

Another important feature of this invention is the provision of abuilt-in paper bag opening device which is disposed under the counter atthe end opposite to the packing end. Referring to Figures 2 and 7, itwill be seen that a platform 90 is disposed between the leg members ofthe counter and serves to support at one end the rear marginal edge ofan inclined bag support platform 9| which is inclined upwardly towardthe operators side of the counter. The platform 9| in co- -operationwith the side and back walls of the counter denne a chamber 92 in whichthe bags 93 are stacked in a flat, closed position. The wall of thecounter nearest the operator has an open construction. It will beparticularly noted in Figure` 1 that there is provided a folded overportion 94 at the lower, rear end of the bags.

Near the upper portion of this bag chamber 92 and extending between apair of wall members 98 there is provided an angle member 85 and a pairof bars 96 which extend substantially to the middle of the chamber butare arranged to provide an opening 91 through which the hand of theoperator may pass when he brings a bag upwardly between the angle member95 and the bars 96. A block S9 having a slanted face |00 is securedimmediately in front of each bar 96 providing an opening IDI throughwhich the bag must be pulled.

As best illustrated in Figure 7, when a 'bag is to be removed from thechamber, the operator grasps the end of the bag and moves his handvertically up through the opening 91 provided between the bars and thenpulls the bag over the top of the bars into the opening IBI. As the bagis guided outwardly over the bars, the folded over portion 94 of the bagwill be contacted by one leg of the angle member to unfold the foldedover portion as shown in Figure '7. As outward movement of the bagcontinues the folded over portion 94 will be completely opened and thefold will be reversed as it passes between the angle member and the bar.'Ihe slanted face H00 imparts a squeezing force to the bag as it passesthrough the opening IUI. When the bag is then removed co-mpletely fromunder the counter the bag will be in a relaxed, substantially openposition so that it may be quickly and efficiently placed under theguide members of the support platform.

This novel bag opening means will, of course, be built into the counterat a position adjacent the operator station within easy reach of theoperators left hand.

From the foregoing description it is seen that there is provided in thisinvention a novel counter construction, the elements of which are sodisposed relative to each other that the operator may face the loadingstation and the cash register at the same time and may efficiently loadthe articles in a container with one hand while recording the sale onthe cash register with the other hand.

Further, there is provided a novel support niember adapted to supporteither boxes or bags in a convenient position with the open end atsubstantially the level of the top of the counter. Also, there isincorporated in this counter construction a novel bag-opening devicethat increases the efficiency of the operator.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, ofcourse, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto sincemany modifications both in the elements employed and their cooperativestructure may be 6. made without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention. I, of course,'contemplate by the appended claims to coverall such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit andscope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a combination, a counter, a platform disposed at a lower levelthan said counter and extending past the end thereof, a support memberpivotally mounted on said platform and having a panel portion movablefrom a substantially horizontal position to a position inclined towardsaid counter, and a brace pivotally secured to the bottom surface ofsaid support member having'one arm engaging said platform for bracingsaid panel in an inclined position and a second arm movable intoengagement with said platform for supporting said panel in asubstantially horizontal position.

2. In combination in a device for packing a container, a counter, afirst platform disposed below said counter having a portion extendingbeyond the end thereof, a container support member pivotally mounted onsaid platform, and a second platform slidable relative to said firstplatform and pivotally connected to said support member, said secondplatform providing a supporting surface for receiving the containerafter it has been packed.

3. In combination in a device for packing a container, a counter havinga cut-out portion defining an opening, a first platform at a level lowerthan said counter and underlying said opening, a support member disposedin said opening and pivotally mounted on said platform, a bracketsecured to said support member and engaging said platform to hold saidmember in a position inclined toward said counter, a second platformslidably disposed on said first platform and spaced thereabove affordinga receiving platform for a packed container and a panel member mountedbetween said support member and said second platform providing a bottomplatform for supporting the container during a packing operation.

4. In combination in a device for packing a container, a first platform,a support plate having a V-shaped mounting pivotally secured to said rstplatform and being movable from an inclined position to a horizontalposition, a second platform spaced above said first platform, a slidingplate mounting for reciprocating in the plane of said second platformand forming a complementary part thereof, a pivot plate between saidsliding plate and said support plate effective to shift said slidingplate toward or away from said second platform.

LEW'IS A. SIMMONS.

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